Lucknow, November 22: Absence of seasoned players Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir from the Delhi squad has provided Uttar Pradesh an upper hand in their forthcoming Ranji Trophy Elite group B match starting November 24 at the Babu Banarasi Das stadium here.
”But absence of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra, who were on the national duty against Sri Lanka, from the Delhi team, would be an added advantage for UP,” he added.
Gyanendra said if we perform well in this match our chances to enter in the knock out stages would be bright. He said pitch and outfield of the ground are satisfactory and the strip would likely to take turn from the third day’s play.
On strategies for the final combination of the team he said playing XI would be decided on the morning of the match with the consultation with the skipper Mohammad Kaif.
UP had earned three vital points in the last rained effected match against Baroda by virtue of their slender six runs lead in the first innings in Ghaziabad.
J B Saxena, who was appointed by the BCCI as co-ordinator and Manager of the UPCA to take stock of the ground conditions was satisifed with outfield as well as the pitch saying that the stadium was in good condition for organising the matches of National level.
He had also submitted his report to UPCA authorities.
The match was allotted for the benefit of former UP Ranji opener and wicket keeper Naresh Wig by the BCCI.
——Agencies